Arrangement for aligning track rails



Jan. 19, 1965 F. P LASSER ETAL ARRANGEMENT FOR ALIGNING TRACK RAILSl Filed May ll. 1962 INVENTORS. QOSEF THU/nb Fen/vz, Hnssez BY EGON 5GHz/sem M M 4QF/IT United States Patent v*()litice 3,155,838 Patented Jan. 19., 1965 3,165,838 ARRANGEMENT FOR ALIGNING TRACK RAILS Franz Plasser and Josef Theun-er, both of Johannesgasse 3, and Egon Schubert, Sturzgasse 17, all f Vienna, Austria Filed May 11, 1962, Ser. No. 194,141 Claims priority, application Austria, May 18, 1961, A 3,938/ 61 9 Claims. (Cl. 33-86) The present invention relates to an arrangement for aligning track rails, and more particularly to the correction of track curves. Itis designed to carry out the track aligning method disclosed and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 32,904, filed May 3l, 1960.

In our prior application, there is disclosed a method of aligning a track point with a desired track section extending between two 'end points. This method proceeds from a lirst portion of the track section, which has previously been aligned, and the track point to be aligned lies outside an imaginary succeeding portion of the track section. It comprises the steps of laying a yiirst chordal element `,between the end points of the track section, laying av second and shorter chordal element between a point of the lirst track section portion and the track point to be aligned, measuring a iirst parameter defining a point of the first track section portion in relation to the rst chordal element, transforming this parameter into an analogous parameter for the shorter chordal element and moving the track point until the shorter chordal element has this analogous parameter. In particular, the measured parameter is the ordinate or oiset of the rst chordal element and its valve is transformed into the value of the ordinate of the shorter chordal element.

Accordingly, in the arrangement of the present invention, two chordal reference'elements of unequal length are associated. with one, preferably each, of the track rails to extend generally in the direction of the track, An indicating means is mounted on a carriage and includes two independently movable indicating elements. Each indicating element is coupled with a respective one of the chordal elements f or moving the indicating elements in dependence on the chordal elements and a common mounting means is provided for both indicating elements for cooperatingly moving one of the elements in relation to the other one.

In the preferred embodiment, the Vchordal 'elements aretensioned Wires and the longer wire extends in a plane parallel to the track plane and farther spaced therefrom than the plane wherein'the shorter wire extends. In' this embodiment, the common mounting means may be a common -pivot about which the indicating elements may swing and the common pivot may be spaced at any desired disspecific embodiment thereof, taken inconjunctionwith thev accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of the Vpreferred track aligning arrangement of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the indicating means of the arrangement.

Referring iirst to FIG. l, there is schematically shown a track aligning machine 1 movable Von and along the track rails 31, 31. Since movable track aligning machines are well known, the operating mechanism of this machine is not illustrated, the transversely extending arrows indicating simply that the machine includes means for moving the track rails laterally of the track direction in either lateral direction.

In the illustrated embodiment, each track rail has associated therewith a respective aligning arrangement according to the invention, the arrangement associated with one rail being an exact replica of the arrangement associated With the other rail and the duplicated parts being designated by the same reference numerals bearing a prime.

'Ihe track aligning arrangement operates with two chordal reference elements, one of which is longer than the other. However, to make the arrangement readily reversi- Ible so that it may be moved for operation in either direction, the preferred arrangement includes -tWo like short chordal reference elements for a purpose to Ibe explained hereinafter. Also, as illustrated, the preferred chordal reference elements are tensioned wires,

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of like chordal reference elements 2 and 2 is associated with each of the track rails 31 and 31 and the reference elements extend'generally in the direction of the track in either direction of track aligning machine 1. One of the end points 3, 3' of the elements 2, 2' is mounted on the track aligning machine while their other end points 4, -4' and 5, 5' are mounted on a pair of support carriages 14 and 14' which are arranged on either side of the track aligning machine. Thus, each. of. the tensioned wire lengths 2, 2 stretches Afrom one end point 3, respectively 3', to their respective end points 4, 4' and 5, 5 on the support carriages 14 and 14. In the illustrated embodiment, each pair of chordal elements 2, 2' is constituted by a tensioned length of wire trained, respectively, over pairs of rollers 3, 3'. The .two ends of 'each wire are attached at points 4, 4' and 5, 5', respectively, to cross bars mounted on carriages A14, 14'.

An additional pair of carriages 6 and 8 are movable along the track and a respective one of the latter carriages is arranged between .the track aligning machine and a respective support .carriage 14, 14. The carriages n', 8 carry the indicating means of the present invention and the alignment indicating positions on the track rails are indicated by 7, 7 and 9, 9'.V

The longer chordal reference element 10 and 10' is shown to be mounted with its end points 12, 12' and 16, 16' on another pair of support carriages 11 and 15. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the support carriages 14, 14 are arranged between the support carriages 11, 15 and the track aligning machine 1, the longer chordal reference element 10, 1li' also extending generally in the direction of the track in either direction of the track aligning machine. Means is provided for adjusting the distance of the support carriages 11 and 15 in relation to track aligning machine lwhereby one of the like chordal reference elements 2, 2' may beA selectively positioned at least approrimately centrallybetween 'the end points'12, 16 or 12', 16 of the longer chordal reference element. 'I'he illustrated distance Vadjusting means are adjustable spacing rods 13 for instance the indicating position forthe track alignment is at 7. If the direction were reversed, support carriage v15 would be moved outwardly away from track aligning machine 1 and carriage 11 would be correspondingly moved toward the track aligning machine. This would make the indicating position 9 operative.

Thus, either indicating position 7 or 9 is at least approximately centrally between the end points of the longer chordal element.' Positioned on either side of the indicating position are two pairs of supporting carriages 1, 14 and 1-1, y15 for mounting the end points 3, Ai and 12, 16 of the shorter and longer chordal elements, respectively, the -respective distances of the support carriages of each pair from the indicating position being at least approximately the same.

The indicating means mounted on carriages 6-and 8 at respective indicating positions 7 and 9 is shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated a pair of like indicating means is associated with rails 31 and 31, like parts of the indicating means at positions 7 and 9' being designated by like reference numerals but being primed.

The indicating means includes -two independently movable indicating elements 20 and 21. A common mounting means, shown as pivot 24, is provided for both indicating elements for co-operatingly moving the indicating elements about the common mounting means, i.e, by pivoting one in relation to the other element.

Means is provided for changing the distance of the common pivot 24 from the associated rail 31 at will, the illustrated distance adjusting means including rods 22 each carrying one of the pivots 24, 24' and spacing discs 23 which are pressed against the rails by a coil spring 22a mounted on the rods between the spacing discs. Each disc engages a respective one of the rails and thus maintains the pivots at a set distance from the rails, the distance being determined by the setting of the spacing discs on rods 22.

Means is also provided for coupling each indicating element with a respective one of the chordal reference elements .for moving the indicating elements in dependence on the chordal elements to which they are respectively coupled about the common pivot 24. In :the illustrated embodiment, the coupling means includes an elongated slot in each of the indicating elements 20 and 21, the slot in element 21 being shown to be engaged by the longer tensioned wire reference element while the slot in element is engaged by the shorter tensioned wire reference element 2. As the indicating means is moved relative to the chordal reference elements, the tensioned wires will automatically swing the respective indicating elements about their common pivot relative to one another.

As shown, the indicating means also includes an electrical indicating circuit 4which comprises two electrical contacts -25 and 26 mounted on the one indicating element 21 -while the other indicating element -29 is designed as a contactor arranged to be moved into Contact with a respective one of the contacts 25, 26. The contactor is thus moved lby the shorter chordal element 2 and is pivoted thereby in relation to the contacts 25, 26 arranged on the indicating element 21. f

Contact of the contactor with one of the contacts 25, 26 closes the indicating circuit and thus actnates suitable signal means in :the circuit for indicating in which lateral direction the associated rail is to be moved for the desired alignment. These signal means may be, for instance, different colored electric bulbs 27 and .2.8 which receive power from separate power sources 29 and 30 when the circuit is closed. If the contactor element 2t) is pivoted into the neutral position between the contacts 25, 26, the circuit is opened and no power is supplied to the signal means 27 or 28. This indicates that no alignment of the track is needed at this particular indicating position.

It is, of course, fully within the skill of the art to connect the indicating circuit to servo motor means, such as hydraulic motors or eccentric vibrators, which engages a respective rail and laterally moves the same toward the right or left in response to the signal from the indicating circuit. In this manner, the electric indicating circuit forming part of the track aligning arrangement of 4the present invention makes a fully automated alignment operation possible.

In a single aligning operation, only a single indicating means associated with one of the rails is required. However, to make the arrangement useful for aligning track curves turning lett as well as right, a like indicating arrangement is associated with each of the `rails, the two arrangements being exact duplicates of one another.

As shown, it is preferred to have the shorter and longer chordal reference elements extend in different planes parallel to the track plane, the longer chordal element 1i) extending in a plane farther spaced from the track plane than the plane wherein the shorter chordal element 2 extends.

Preferably, if .the distance of the shorter wire 2 from pivot 24 is d, the distance of the longer wire 19 from the pivot is chosen to .be nzd, n being the iratio of lengths of the two wires. It is advantageous to make the longer chordal reference element 31.6m. long and Ithe shorter chordal element l0 m. long because the square of the ratio n (31.62102) is about 10 so that the ordinate ofthe short chordal element is always a tenth of the ordinate of the long chordal element.

The track curve, which is to be aligned, has the correct curvature when the common pivot 24 of the two indicating elements 20, 21 is in alignment with the two chordal elements 2 and 10 in the plane perpendicular to the track axis. The distance of the pivots 24, 24 from the track rails 31, 31 is preferably so chosen that the pivot is in vertical alignment with the two chordal elements when the track runs straight. However, this is not an absolute 4requirement -for the operability of the aligning arrangement,

The usefulness of making the arrangement readily operable in either direction of the track lies in the practical operating conditions which often require alignment of the track in both directions from a xed point, such as bridges, cross paths and the like.

As will be appreciated, the entire arrangement may be readily removed from the track to permit thrghtraflic during maintenance and alignment operations. All that is required is the removal of the coupling rods 13 and reeling of the longer tensioned wire 10 to move the outer carriages 11 and 16 toward the track aligning machine 1, the coupling rods may be telescoped into these bores as the outer support carriages are pulled toward the machine by winding the tensioned wire on spools or reels. All of the carriages may run up on auxiliary railsv and the whole assembly may be hydraulically lifted and secured in posi tion, whereupon the track aligning machine, with the carI riages securedthereto, may be laterally moved from the track in any suitable and conventional manner.

While the invention has been specically described and illustrated in connection with one preferred embodiment, it will be clearly understood that many modifications and variations may occur to the skilled in the art, particularly after benefiting from the present teaching, without departing from the spirit @and scope 0f this invention as det-ined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An arrangement for aligning track rails comprising, in combination:

(a) two chordal reference elements of unequal length associated with one of said rails and extending generally in the direction of the track;

(b) support means for mounting the end points of the chordal elements;

(c) means for moving the support means` along the track;

(d) a carriage movable along the track and arranged between the end points of the two chordal reference elements;

(e) an indicating means mounted on said carriage, said indicating means including two independentlyA movable indicating elements;

(f) means for coupling each of said indicating elements. with a respective one of said choral elements forv moving said indicating elements in dependence on the chordal elements;

(g) a common pivot for said indicating elements about.

andasse which one of said indicating elements is pivotal in relation to the other; and p (Iz) means for changing the distance of the'common pivot from the associated one of said rails. Y

2. The arrangement of claim l, wherein said chordal reference elements are tensioned Wires.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said indicating means is at least approximately centered between the end points of one of the chordal elements.

4. The arrangement of claim l, wherein the two chordal reference elements extend in different planes parallel to the track plane.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the plane wherein the longer chordal element extends is farther spaced from the track plane than the plane wherein Vthe shorter chordal element extends.

6. The arrangement of claim l, wherein said chordal reference elements are tensioned wires, and said coupling means includes a slot in each of said indicating elements, the slots being engaged by a respective one of said tensioned wires for pivoting the indicating elements about said pivot.

7. An arrangement for aligning track rails and movable along the track in either direction thereof for operation in either one of said directions, said arrangement comprising, in combination:

(a) a track aligning machine movable on and along said track;

(b) a pair of like chordal reference elements associated with one of said rails and extending generally in the direction of the track in either direction of the track aligning machine, one of the end points of said chordal reference elements being mounted on said track aligning machine;

(c) a pair of support carriages arranged on either side of the track aligning machine on the track for' mounting the other end points of the like chordal reference elements;

(d) a third and longer chordal reference element associated with said one rail and also extending gen erally in the direction of the track in either direction of the track aligning machine;

(e) another pair of support carriages for mounting the `end points of said longer chordal reference element, the support carriages of said first-named pairbeing arranged between the support carriages of said other pair and said track aligning machine; Y.

(f) means for moving said support carriages along the track;

(g) an additional pair of carriages movable along the track and a respective one of said latter carriages being arranged between the track aligning machine and a respective one of the support carriages of the first-named pair;

(h) means for adjusting the distance of the support carriages of said other pair in relation to the track aligning machine whereby one of said like chordal.

reference elements may be selectively positioned at least approximately centrally between the end points v of the longer chordalreference element;-

, v (i) an indicating means mounted on eachl of the car'- riages of said adidtional pair, said indicating means tive one of said like chordal reference elements for moving said indicating elements independence on the chordal element to which they are coupled; and

(k) a common mounting means for the indicating elements of each of said indicating means for coioperatingly moving one of said indicating elements in relation to the other.

8. An arrangement for aligning track railsY comprising,

in combination: Y

(a) two chordal reference Yelements of vunequal length associated with one of said rails and extending generally in the direction of the track;

(b) support meansrfor mounting the end points of the chordal elements;

(c) means for moving the support means along the track;

(d) a carriage movable along the track and arranged etween the end points of the two chordal reference elements;

(e) an indicating means mounted on said carriage, saidindicating means including two independently movable indicating elements;V

(f) means for coupling each of said indicating elements with arespective one of said chordal elements for moving said indicating elements in dependence on the chordal elements; and l (g) a common mounting means for said indicating elements for cooperatingly moving one of said indicating elementsin relation to the other; and

(h) an electrical indicating circuit including two elecrical contacts mounted on one of said indicating elements, the other one of said indicating elements being a contacter arranged to be moved into contact with, a respective one of said contacts.v

9. The arrangement of claim 8, further comprising (i) signal means actuatable upon closing of the indicating circuit by said contact and designed to indicate in which lateral direction Vthe associated rail. is to be aligned.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 657,880V Vl/29 France.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ARRANGEMEWNT FOR ALIGNING TRACK RAILS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) TWO CHORDAL REFERENCE ELEMENTS OF UNEQUAL LENGTH ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID RAILS AND EXTENDING GENERALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TRACK; (B) SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE END POINTS OF THE CHORDAL ELEMENTS; (C) MEANS FOR MOVING THE SUPPORT MEANS ALONG THE TRACK; (D) A CARRIAGE MOVABLE ALONG THE TRACK AND ARRANGED BETWEEN THE END POINTS OF THE TWO CHORDAL REFERENCE ELEMENTS; (E) AN INDICATING MEANS MOUNTING ON SAID CARRIAGE, SAID INDICATING MEANS INCLUDING TWO INDEPENDENTLY MOVABLE INDICATING ELEMENTS; (F) MEANS FOR COUPLING EACH OF SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS; WITH A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID CHORDAL ELEMENTS FOR MOVING SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS IN DEPENDENCE ON THE CHORDAL ELEMENTS; (G) A COMMON PIVOT FOR SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS ABOUT WHICH ONE OF SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS IS PIVOTAL IN RELATION TO THE OTHER; AND (H) MEANS FOR CHANGING THE DISTANCE OF THE COMMON PIVOT FROM THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID RAILS. 